Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday urged people to to take care to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and asked them to be more vigilant during the ‘unlock’ period.
“During this unlock period, one will have to focus deeply on two points - defeating corona and strengthening the economy and bolstering it,” Modi in his monthly ‘Mann ki baat’ radio programme.
“During the unlock period, we have to stay more vigilant compared to the lockdown period and only alertness can save you from corona,” he said.
“If you do not wear a mask, do not observe the two-yard social distancing norm or do not take other precautions, you are putting others at risk besides yourselves, especially the elderly and children at home,” the prime minister cautioned.
“Some people are saying that 2020 is not auspicious. People just want the year to be over, one way or the other. But historically, India has always emerged brighter and stronger, ensuring victory over all kinds of disasters and challenges,” Modi said.
While the number of Covid-19 cases in the world are close to crossing the 10mn mark, India yesterday witnessed a spike of more than 19,000 case, bringing the tally to 528,859.
Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a programme of clinical trials for rapid antigen detection for covid-19 patients.
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) hospital is one among them, officials said yesterday.
The decision has been made considering the high surge in the number of Covid patients in the last few days.
The procedure will not only help keep a track on the increasing number of patients but also enable easy access to detect the affected people on a larger scale within a short span of time.
The ICMR has identified seven tertiary-care hospitals across the country to initiate trials and the PGIMER has been selected as one of the sites to be part of this programme for critically-ill Covid-19 patients.
Responding to the development, PGIMER director Jagat Ram said, “The availability of antigen-based detection tests is very limited all across the world.”
“Most of such tests have relatively moderate sensitivity but high specificity. The test is a promising tool to keep a track of Covid patients by rapid testing. We are thankful to ICMR for having entrusted us with the responsibility,” he added.
On the execution plan, the director said, “A committee will be constituted to work out the modalities and comprehensive plan along with timelines to meet the desired expectations of the ICMR and contribute towards containing the pandemic.”
A policeman checks the travel pass from a man after strict lockdown norms for weekends and public holidays were imposed in Amritsar yesterday.
